PM ‘can’t recall’ he provided IDF chopper to billionaire friend

“A transcript released Monday proports to be a record of an interrogation into an occasion where Netanyahu allegedly arranged a military chopper to transport Milchan and Indian industrialist Ratan Tata to Jordan for a meeting with King Abdullah regarding a planned construction of a joint Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian inexpensive car industry.”

Netanyahu’s memory failed him when asked to confirm he provided chopper transport to his benefactor for the promotion of his business nor could he recall any other occasions such treatment was given

Itamar Eichner|Published: 07.09.19 , 11:27

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was unable to confirm during a police interrogation if he provided an Israeli military helicopter to benefit his billionaire friend, according to transcripts released Monday.

As the date of Netanyahu’s pre indictment hearing nears, on corruption charges in case 1000, which may include receiving bribes amounting to NIS1 million in gifts from wealthy benefactors Arnon Milchan and James Packer, in exchange for favors.

The gifts allegedly included a steady stream of Cuban cigars and Champaign as well as jewels. Netanyahu has denied the allegations.

Netanyahu benefactor Arnon Milchan (Photo: AP)

Milchan’s personal assistant has testified to the gifts being delivered to the Prime Minister and his wife. Portions of her testimony have become public Sunday on Israel’s channel 12 and refer to people working for the prime minister having to pay for expensive cigars for Netanyahu and not being reimbursed. These allegations are also being denied by the prime minister and his loyalists including those mentioned in the testimony.

Prime Minister and Mrs. Sara Netanyahu (Photo: Herzliya Studios)

A transcript released Monday proports to be a record of an interrogation into an occasion where Netanyahu allegedly arranged a military chopper to transport Milchan and Indian industrialist Ratan Tata to Jordan for a meeting with King Abdullah regarding a planned construction of a joint Israeli-Jordanian-Palestinian inexpensive car industry.

The interrogation was conducted by National Fraud Unit commander, Brigadier General Koresh Bar Nur.

Bar Nur: Did you ask for a chopper to take Milchan to Jordan?

Netanyahu: I don’t remember, possibly, I don’t remember.

Bar Nur: why?

Netanyahu: Its possible

Bar Nur: Did you give your permission to the military? To Mossad?

Netanyahu: It’s entirely possible, possibly.

Bar Nur: Is that acceptable?

Netanyahu: Why not? Why not?

Bar Nur: Is that acceptable to arrange a state-owned chopper?

Netanyahu: first of all, there were cases, there are such cases and the air force, what are you talking about?

Bar Nur: What? For private businesspeople?

Netanyahu: Tell me are you talking to me? People come here, contribute to the country, they get tours.

Bar Nur: but they were not here to contribute.

Netanyahu: they were here to contribute.

Bar Nur: are you in the habit of arranging choppers?

Netanyahu: hold on, hold on, I see it as.. listen…

Police Fraud Unit chief Bar Nur

Bar Nur tried to get Netanyahu to remember a specific time he arranged a chopper for other visiting businessmen, but the prime minister was unable to recollect any such incident.

Bar Nur pushed on asking if the Israeli taxpayer was supposed to pay for such use of a military chopper to which the prime minister responded “you are asking me about choppers?

Bar Nur: You pick up the phone and organize a chopper?

Netanyahu: I will tell you now why I organized a chopper for them, if I organized the chopper.

Bar Nur: You had.

Netanyahu: If I had, I will tell you why.

Bar Nur: who did you call? The military?

Netanyahu: I don’t recall.

After more questions back and forth Netanyahu told his interrogator:

Netanyahu: I will tell you why your theory is inconsistent with the facts. There is a aggregation of huge things I believe in, an economic peace, and along comes someone with a plan the fits perfectly into my vision of a free trade zone with Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians, I love it, and will an Indian industrialist, this is huge. I didn’t think Milchan was involved. I am focused on Indian. Do you have any idea how this will affect Israel?

Bar Nur: We were talking about a chopper, sir.

Netanyahu: no, no, listen to me.

Bar Nur: Now you’re giving a speech.

The Prime Minister’s Office released the following statement in response: “What the investigator failed to understand is today clear to all. Prime Minister Netanyahu was promoting strategic relations with India, which has since become a premier ally of Israel, and was also promoting the vision of an economic peace, which was now manifested in the Bahrain Conference.”